Customer Reviews

Pinhole Photography, Second Edition

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

When I first received this book, I was a bit disappointed. I'm just starting out in pinhole photography, and I wanted my hand held while learning the ins and outs of this new skill. This book doesn't do that. After it sat around for a few days, I picked it back up and started actually reading it. What the book DOES, is give you a wonderful historical perspective of this most unusual and artistic art form...because that's what pinhole photography is, an art. Photography in general, especially digital photography, is SO controlled and SO exact, that it's lost a lot of it's magic. While certain scientific aspects of pinhole photography can exert a meaningful amount of control over the subject at hand, in it's heart of hearts it is still a wild and free spirit making images however and wherever it desires. Where else can you make an image by putting a piece of film in your MOUTH and using your lips as the aperture? Where else can you make a camera out of a shopping bag, a purse, a hole in the ground, a red pepper? (Dark red works best by the way.) This book gives you all these examples along with rich and varied historical perspective into this most fascinating aspect of the photographic world. If you are a serious pinhole photographer (...or have intentions of being one), you owe to yourself to read this book. It's not a "how to" book by any means, but it is a "where you came from" book of the 1st degree.

If you only buy one book on pinhole photography, this is the one to get. It provides the background, the basics of how to do it, and plenty of examples of the diversity and richness of expression within this area of photography.

Fabulous book. I, like other reviewers it would seem, got a bit bogged down in the early chapters that cover the history and science that led to pinhole photography. I just really wanted to get to the "how to make a pinhole camera" part. However, having read all the other chapters, when I did get to the "how to" section, I now understood the physics behind the technique, and was therefore able to design a camera to do exactly what I want it to do - a clever way to get you there. The book is also loaded with diagrams and photos, both of equipment and of actual photography. Highly recommended.

When I ordered this book, I expected it would cover the basics of pinhole photography, and it does. What I didn't expect was that the book would grab me and kept me under the spell with its incredible narration of pinhole history, practitionners experiments and techniques, and also beautiful pictures.

Eric Renner manages to write a very deep, but yet fun to read prose where he quotes many famous and obscure figures. You get to hear the words Leonardo da Vinci or Plato, but also the thought processes of the photographer (among many others) who build 120 pinholes, put them in a waterproof container with instruction of use and set them at sea with a return address. This book if chock full of fun ideas for the people who like to tinker with things and build cameras out of anything, from a matchbox to a hole in the ground (and you can also make a pinhole camera with your mouth or fist...

Everthing you would ever want to know about pinhole and lens-less photogaphy, and then some. If you are into pinhole photogaprhy this book is a must.

This is one of the best guides for anyone wanting to explore the world of pinhole photography. Eric Renner delves into the both the historical aspects of pinhole photography as well as presenting practical information for the exploration of this nearly lost art form. This book will inform, educate, and inspire you to explore the world of lens-less photography.

Simply put, this is the BEST book available on the subject of pinhole photography. Eric Renner has found a balance between the art and science of this art form and put it in to print for all of us to share. If you are going to buy only one book on the subject, this is the one to get.

I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in pinhole photography. It thoroughly covers history, camera construction and technique. I use it for my photo class and the students love it. the book has many examples that are very helpful in showing my students the various possibilities of pinhole imaging. A wonderful book and an excellent resource.

This is the all around best book on the topic of Pinhole Photography that I have seen. It's long on explanations and samples of artwork; although, it's a bit weak on practical examples and experiments.

I really enjoy reading this book. The historical section would be of interest to students of 15th-17th century painting, optics, and science in general. There are many, many full color images, spanning the range of pinholes, from the simple (homemade plastic pinhole cameras that are disposable) to NASA pinhole images of X-ray and Gamma ray sources. The last chapter covers most of the equations and "build" information needed to get started and properly expose your first pinhole photos.

The only caveat would be that a beginner should probably also buy a copy of "The Hole Thing" for different explanations and more construction information.